THE New Zealand internet tycoon Kim Dotcom claimed a ''massive'' response to his file-sharing service that was launched on Sunday, and suggested it could be the fastest growing start-up in history.

The mega.co.nz website, which replaced the outlawed Megaupload, went live at dawn, exactly a year after armed police stormed Mr Dotcom's Auckland mansion and arrested him in the world's biggest online piracy case.

Mr Dotcom, who wanted this venture to repeat the success of Megaupload's 50 million visitors daily, said there had been a ''massive'' demand.